Problems with 1-Step RoboPDF

Report · Jun 07, 2007

I am using RoboHelp X5. It seems I can't get RoboPDF to start. Neither can I uninstall it to reinstall it. I want to be able to directly generate PDF without going through Word first.

I have the RoboHelp 6 upgrade, but I wanted to finish my current project before attempting the upgrade. Makes sense, right? But I heard generating PDF is much easier in 6 than in X5. Is this true? How difficult is the upgrade?

Craig

Report · Jun 07, 2007

Welcome to the forum

It's difficult to help you on RoboPDF as you don't say what happens when you try to start it or uninstall it.

RH6 includes Acrobat Elements rather than RoboPDF and it works well. No real problems reported upgrading but it's your neck on the block if you are the person who finds one!

You know your project first but usually the output needs a bit of tweaking, even if it is just a few manual page breaks. For that reason, I always go through Word first and apply a bit of polish.

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Report · Jun 07, 2007

quote:

Originally posted by: Peter Grainge
Welcome to the forum

It's difficult to help you on RoboPDF as you don't say what happens when you try to start it or uninstall it.

RH6 includes Acrobat Elements rather than RoboPDF and it works well. No real problems reported upgrading but it's your neck on the block if you are the person who finds one!

You know your project first but usually the output needs a bit of tweaking, even if it is just a few manual page breaks. For that reason, I always go through Word first and apply a bit of polish.

When I open Control Panel and Add or Remove Programs, 1-Step RoboPDF shows up. When I click Change/Remove, the Install Shield Wizard appears. Then some message flashes by too fast for me to read. It must be an error message. The program remains and will not uninstall. Do I have to go in and rip it out by hand?

Report · Jun 07, 2007

You are right to be cautious but not because there is anything wrong with RoboPDF in X6. I just adopt the approach that it is unwise to upgrade mid project. Why can't you uninstall/reinstall?

Report · Jun 07, 2007

quote:

Originally posted by: Colum McAndrew
You are right to be cautious but not because there is anything wrong with RoboPDF in X6. I just adopt the approach that it is unwise to upgrade mid project. Why can't you uninstall/reinstall?

It won't uninstall. I would have to rip it out manually. I am reluctant to do so, but I will if I must.

Report · Jun 07, 2007

The reason I asked was that some people have reported they cannot uninstall it because it does not appear in Add / Remove. When advised where it is, it then transpires that they had not seen it. Hence asking the what was happening. OK?

If you want to remove manually that's up to you. If RH6 finds some trace, it is likely to refuse to install.

Adobe are aware that there were problems with 1 Step so you might do better to get in touch with Tech Support.

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Report · Jun 07, 2007

quote:

Originally posted by: Peter Grainge
The reason I asked was that some people have reported they cannot uninstall it because it does not appear in Add / Remove. When advised where it is, it then transpires that they had not seen it. Hence asking the what was happening. OK?

If you want to remove manually that's up to you. If RH6 finds some trace, it is likely to refuse to install.

Adobe are aware that there were problems with 1 Step so you might do better to get in touch with Tech Support.

Oh good. I have already stumped the unofficial experts. Sigh. While RoboHelp functions just fine, RoboPDF has never functioned. And to make things even better, while RoboPDF installed, it will not run. Why? Because when I checked the shortcut's properties, and looked at the execution path, the path was incorrect. The path pointed to where the exe file was not. I have never seen that. It pointed to an empty folder. I searched for the exe file, found it, and corrected the path. Still no go. I think I will have to visit the guys over at Adobe, unless you folks have a brilliant idea.

Report · Jun 07, 2007

Why are you trying to run the exe? 1 Step, like any PDF creation program, should install so that it appears in your list of printers.

When accessed from there, you may get an error message but not one that flashes past. See Snippet 33 on my site.

BTW. We try to be here to help you, not be seen as targets to be beaten. And sometimes we can answer stuff that Adobe cannot.

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Report · Jun 07, 2007

quote:

Originally posted by: Peter Grainge
Why are you trying to run the exe? 1 Step, like any PDF creation program, should install so that it appears in your list of printers.

When accessed from there, you may get an error message but not one that flashes past. See Snippet 33 on my site.

BTW. We try to be here to help you, not be seen as targets to be beaten. And sometimes we can answer stuff that Adobe cannot.

My apologies if you got that impression from my reply. I certainly didn't mean it that way. I came here because of your reputation on the Web.

Strange how I am a technical writer and I can still word things wrongly.

Ohhhh, I was not aware of that at all regarding 1-Step.

If 1-Step is supposed to appear on my list of printers, how does that connect with my "Generate PDF" check box being unavailable?

I have lots of learning to do. Thank you for your patience.

Report · Jun 07, 2007

Go into Word and open any old document. Then try to print it using File | Print and see if 1 Step is appearing in the File menu list of printers.

If that works, albeit after apply the tweak, then I suggest you live with that route while you finish this project. If you are going to be on RH6 soon, it isn't worth the time making that option appear, if indeed it can be done.

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Report · Jun 07, 2007

I applied the tweak. Nothing new in Word. I followed the instructions, odd though they were.

But now when I try to start RoboHTML, I get the Windows Installer, which appears to hang. RoboHTML.exe is still where it always was. I didn't touch that or anything else.

Any ideas on how to get RoboHTML going again? I admit I don't know what happened there.

Report · Jun 07, 2007

Nevermind, guys. I actually fixed this one myself. I had a heart attack first, but I did manage to download the fix, run it, and open RoboHTML. Thank Ye Gods.

Report · Jun 07, 2007

The tweak has never had that effect before and plenty of people have used it. Could it have been the path change you made earlier? Also curious as to what fix you downloaded. Might help someone else to know.

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Report · Jun 07, 2007

quote:

Originally posted by: Peter Grainge
The tweak has never had that effect before and plenty of people have used it. Could it have been the path change you made earlier? Also curious as to what fix you downloaded. Might help someone else to know.

I think I change all the rules when I dive into something.

I bookmarked the fix -- http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=rb_69789

Also called " Windows Installer hangs when starting RoboHelp"

The problem could have been caused by anything.

My manager told me not to worry too much about the PDF thing right now, so I won't.

But fear not, gentlemen, I shall return. And thank you for your help.